Requesting a Credit Report (2) 

Screen ID:

PCRBREQ-02
Screen Title:

Request Credit Report
Panel ID: 1053
Tool Number: Multiple
    Click here to magnify

Access this screen after using Enter on the previous screen.

Check out the video related to this topic: Viewing Credit Information for Membership Applications (More videos below!)

Helpful Resources

Learn how to complete tasks related to opening a new loan.

Learn how to complete tasks relate to opening a new membership.

Why doesn't one of my loans appear on a member's (or additional signer's) credit report?

Online Credit Bureau Access and FUEL (1) Introductory and Startup Guide (FUEL)

Online Credit Bureau Access and FUEL (2) Configuring FUEL and the Approval Matrix

Online Credit Bureau Access and FUEL (3) User Guide  

Screen Overview

This screen is used to generate up to two credit reports. (See the Inquiry detail section below for a discussion of the types.) The system will automatically fill in any known information about the individuals whose SSN/TINs were entered on the previous window. Miscellaneous information such as birthdate, length of employment, etc., are used to provide the credit bureau with any updated information that is found in your files.

If a SSN is not found in either CU*BASE Member or Non-Member files, a pop-up window will appear to record the name and address for future use within CU*BASE.

  • Although a SSN/TIN is required to proceed on this screen, the credit report is actually pulled by name, and the SSN/TIN is used as a secondary verification.

  • NOTE: At this point, the system is not actually “tying” the report you pull to any loan applications or member files, so you could actually have two completely different SSNs if necessary. Also, if you have already pulled a report for the primary borrower and only need a report for a co-borrower, you may clear the Primary Borrower SSN/TIN field at this point.

  • NOTE: FUEL decisions are stored for both primary and co-applicant are stored under the primary borrower credit report summary. If a co-applicant is added after a FUEL decision is run, a new decision cannot be run for the co-applicant only. Refer to your credit union policy on pulling an updated decision for both primary and co-applicant.

  • NOTE: FUEL decisions are tied to a particular loan product, the loan product dictates what auto-decision workflow to run the decision request through. Ex. Product Code 001- Credit Card is tied to one decision workflow, and Product Code 002- New Auto is tied to another decision workflow. Distinguishing the product code to be used is required, and as such the option 31- Credit File w/ Decision is not presented until an application is created. See Complete Loan Application workflow.

Verify the name and address format (see below for important instructions) and use Send Request (F5) to send the request to pull the credit report(s). This will take just a few moments, and status messages will appear to let you know the progress of your request. (See below for information about handling potential error messages.)

If multiple reports have been requested at the same time (for co-borrowers, for example), use Enter when instructed to continue with each subsequent request. Once the final report has been received, you will automatically be returned to your original starting point in CU*BASE.

Proper Formats for Name and Address Information

You will notice that name and address fields on this screen can be modified to adjust the spelling or format for the request. The most important reason for this is that NO PUNCTUATION IS ALLOWED in any of the name or address fields for a credit report request. If an address comes in from your CU*BASE member or non-member files with periods, commas, dashes, ampersands (&) or any other punctuation, remove them before processing the request to avoid receiving an error message.

The first characters of the address line must be all numbers. Addresses such as “1114A Oak Drive” are not allowed, so be sure to remove the alphabetic characters before submitting the request (“1114 Oak Drive”). In addition, the first and last name cannot begin with a space.

If a change is made anywhere on this screen, be sure to use Enter to record the change before using Send Request (F5). If a name or address is changed, this ensures that the correct information is sent along with the request. If a SSN/TIN number is changed, Enter prompts the system to search for any existing member or non-member information it can find and fill it into the appropriate name and address fields.

  • NOTE: Changes made to name and address fields will not affect the original information stored in CU*BASE. The data on this screen is only used as part of the credit report request.

Swapping Address 1 and Address 2

Since the format used by CASS Certification and the format expected by the credit bureaus when pulling reports is not always the same, you can use the FlipAddr (F13) feature to swap the contents of the ADDR1 and ADDR2 fields (i.e., to switch the position of the street address and the apartment number, for example). The following window will appear:

images\4946_shg.gif

Choose which borrower(s) should have the address lines switched (if there is more than one request being sent at the same time), then use Enter to continue. Repeat the process to switch the address lines back to their original position.

  • Remember that this switch is only for this credit report pull; MASTER records are not affected in any way.

Understanding Inquiry Types

At the top of the screen is the Inquiry Type field. The option used by your credit union is determined by your credit union's arrangement with the Credit Bureau itself. Be sure to use the correct code based on that agreement, or the request will be rejected.

NOTE: All requests are considered a “hard” inquiry; the request will be recorded as an inquiry on the member's credit file.

Credit File Only (30 - FUEL) - This inquiry type will request a formatted credit report along with general summary information, scores and profile summary data. No prescreen (“Decision”) results will be included.

Credit File + Custom Decision (31 - FUEL) - This inquiry type will request a formatted credit report along with general summary information, scores, and profile summary data, as well as the custom Decision results per your arrangement with the credit bureau. (If your credit union has not arranged for a custom decision model, this inquiry type will behave exactly the same as inquiry type 30 described above.)

Soft pull with full details - (Currently available only to Transunion and Equifax subscribers only).  Unlike a standard credit file only, this will not affect your members score and cannot be used to extend credit.  Otherwise it contains all of the components a standard credit file only pull.  Contact Lender*VP for details and the special subscriber code.

Handling Error Messages

On occasion, you may attempt to request a credit report and, because of a temporary problem with the link between CU*BASE and our processor or the bureau, you may see an error message. In most cases, the problem is due to a temporary processing error and using Enter to try again will usually result in a successful transmission.

Following is a list of some of the FUEL messages you may occasionally receive, with some hints on how they should be handled:

Message

Hints

“Unable to Process Sync1 Request”

These messages appear when something has interrupted the flow of data between the credit union and our processor or the credit bureau.  Try using Enter to submit the request again, or cancel and return later to resubmit the request.

“Unable to complete request due to Bureau error; Enter to continue.”

“Credit Bureau off-line; press Enter to continue.”

These messages mean that something has happened at the credit bureau end of the transmission.  This same generic error can mean several different things, including syntax errors on the name and address submitted in the request.  

Enter will return to your original CU*BASE access point; double-check that the name and address information is typed exactly as required (refer to online help for tips), then try resubmitting the request again, or try again at a later time.

“Fragmented file from Bureau for request; press Enter to continue.”

This error usually indicates that more than one record was found at the bureau, resulting in a fragmented file.  (This could be because of a combined file, such as Jr. and Sr. put on the same file, or even due to fraudulent activity.)

After using Enter, the system will finish receiving the file, and you will see a notation on the Summary screen  that the file was received as fragmented.

  • For other errors or problems that persist, contact a client service representative.

Additional Video Resources

Check out these additional video resources!

Creating a Loan Request for a Non-Member

Simple Loan Request

View more membership application-processing videos.

Visit the CU*BASE video library.